FistyKid

Thanks Paraloco and Fiznat, Paraloco, You've got it right. It seems to have little to do with proving a level of care, and more to do with... not outsiders taking jobs, but MONEY! Every license in this state costs money to obtain. I worked a temp job as an unarmed security gaurd when I first got out here. The state run cert class was a joke, 4 hours when it was supposed to be 8, and over a hundred bucks. My wife worked as a bartender over the summer, needed one license to work around the food, and another bartender license... both around 80 bucks each. The only good thing about this state, money-wise, is that theres no state retail tax. What ever the price tag says, that's what you pay. But the state income tax, is higher that what I'm used to from Illinois. By the time you figure there are no toll roads, no state retail tax, and healthcare seems to get paid better out here, I'm guessing I'll still be coming out ahead compared to Illinois. Now the trick is landing that dream job! Fiznat, Good call. I've been dropping apps at hospitals non-stop. But they want 'really' specific certs. Phlebotomy certs, med assistant certs, CNA... There are a few spots where they'll go with EMT's and medics, but because the industry is flooded with us, there just isn't a lot of turn-over. This kind of thing makes me with that EMS schools looked at what they were doing to the local job market before cranking out class after class. I totally understand that I'm being a huge dick by saying this, because I didn't care if what I was doing to the job market when I got my licenses... But the classes that crank out medics just so they can keep private rigs staffed with under-educated medics who don't know enough to complain about working conditions *cough-AMR-cough*... are more than a little depressing. Oh well, that's my two cents.

Haha, true. I also applied to a place in Burns, OR. It's 6 hours away and has pretty progressive protocols. The only negative is that I'd live there and come back and visit my wife every week or so. But still, at least I'd be on a rig and keeping my skills sharp. The money was really good, too. So that helps.

You thought of the move up here? What kept you, the October to April rain season?

If you want to end up on a flight crew, they're generally going to want 5 years as a medic in a busy metro area. A great place to see what experience they want, is to check the career section of the companies' websites. In fact there's one an hour south of Portland is looking to hire now. Good luck in school!

JT and Richard, Thanks for the info. The voulenteer FD in town is 'hiring' in the winter, and has my app. You're right, unpaid but getting my name out (while doing nice things for the community) is the plan. It's funny that you bring up CO, I have a pal out there, and I'm looking into getting CO reciprocity. Thanks! Keep the good ideas coming!

Howdy Team, I'm a new addition to emtCity, but I've been reading over it for years now... Here's my situation, and maybe someone out there can give me some good advice. I'm been in EMS for 6 years, almost 4 as a medic. I moved from Illinois to Oregon with my wife, for her schooling in optometry. Before the move I had to get reciprocity in Oregon, which means I had to get my National (Illinois is one of those states that doesn't make you get the national, because there's too many lazy EMT's or Firefighters here that'd never be able to study for, and pass the NR exams.) Long story short, I got the NR with out any trouble, other than having to drive to other states to get the DOT Refresher, and the practical exam. But I couldn't apply for Oregon Reciprocity unless I lived in Oregon or was hired by someone in Oregon. Obviously, I wouldn't live there until... I lived there. And I couldn't apply anywhere until I had the license in hand! I wasn't worried, I knew that AMR was in Portland, and I made the HUGE mistake of assuming that AMR would be hiring, because they're so big, the turnover would be high. Big mistake. By the time I got here and waited the two months to get my license in the mail, AMR wasn't hiring. And another two months go by and... they're still not hiring. Neither is the county based private ambulance company who does 911 where I live, MetroWest. I feel like I'm behind the 8 Ball. The OR state card I got expires this summer, so I need to start racking up my con-ed. Can't find weekly con-ed classes unless I work for an ambulance company. Can't find work with an ambulance company because I'm new to the area, they're not hiring, and out here... no one knows me. EMS has always been like a tight knit family to me, and I know how hard it is to break into such a tight group. I'm looking everywhere, and so far the only place hiring is a 6 hour drive away, I've applied, but I'd rather not have to live away from my wife to work in the job I love. Any ideas?